the company
Launched in Sept 2005, F&A has fast proven to be a magnet for the stylish shopper and those simply wanting to share a happy time with family and/or friends.
The store’s success has been recognised with several major trade awards. Ranked amongst Retail Week’s top 100 stores in the world 2007; Top of the Shops in Elle Decoration 2006 and in 2006 was also the winner of Glasgow Business Awards’ most Entrepreneurial Company. The café bar has also won the Theme Magazine Award for best café Bar/Bistro 2006. Recently they won the most Stylish café at The Scottish Style Awards 2007 and were nominated for Scottish Tastemakers of the year. In December 2007 they were delighted to be awarded Food Hero of the Year by Metro Newspaper. In 2008, they were nominated for the Scotsbusiness woman of the year award and by September of that year had acquired the Beanscene coffeehouse chain increasing the company turnover to £6m with a combined staff of 200. In January 2009 they were sited in the top 10 rising stars and ones to watch by The Scotsman.
• F&A is the brainchild of chartered surveyor & retail strategist Fiona Hamilton. She is involved in many of the UK’s most vibrant & prestigious lifestyle shopping centres and Alison Fielding, Art Director at The Beggars Group Europe’s largest and most successful independent record label.
• More importantly the girls are family (cousins) and since they’ve been little girls “playing at shops” it has been their dream to open a store together. Coming from a large family of girls it’s no surprise that F&A have two daughters – Tori (12) and Millie (10).
• The company is personally funded by both girls, however, it is also financially backed by the Bank of Scotland, who have supported their concept from the outset.
• The company expanded their management team to bring on board Brian Johnston formally Head of Corporate Bank of Scotland as non exec director to assist them on their future expansion plans. Having 34 years experience in the banking industry he has a substantial knowledge of the world of finance. He also has advisory roles with the likes of Noble Grossart and Brodies.
• Fiona Hamilton says “We want our customers to always feel like they are eating amongst friends! Quality, and a drive to create a place we,as busy business people who love to socialise,would choose to go with colleagues, friends or family, is behind everything that we do from our choice of wine, our food and tableservice, and selection of retail brands and designers that we stock,many of them exclusive to us.’
• Alison Fielding adds: 'As well as our innovative menus and fabulous inexpensive wines, we source unique suppliers as well as new artisans with the capacity to expand as we expand. We want the F&A brand to be synonymous with great food and wine and beautiful, stylish, luxury goods produced in limited runs.'
